evil inside. (Closed - Invite)

[MavericksChild]

Mav blinked a few times in confusion. Sever? Leave Heimdag? Mav’s brow knit as she watched Shikon. Mav’s head began to shake gently in negation. Where was Shikon pulling this from? Mav had thought she’d been perfectly clear with Shi. She had fallen in love. Madly in love.

Mav looked to evil and wondered if he was as confused as she. He smiled and she tried to smile back. ~I think she’s lost her damn mind.~ Mav thought telepathically to him. And she really was beginning to think that. Shi was a champ at twisting situations, but Mav had never seen her come to a conclusion so far off, so quickly before.

Still Mav stood in silence. She wondered if she should slap her mother to sense. Maybe a Holy Water to the face might wake her up? While evilive began to try and clear things up, Mav forced her eyes away from Shi; she studied him. He seemed so calm. Not at all unnerved that Shikon was losing it. Concerned yes, but he appeared to think that it would be so easily cleared. One could only hope.

She moved the few feet that separated them now. Mav understood why Shikon was enraged and it wasn’t because she had taken up with her sisters ex-husband. She thought Mav was going to leave them. So Mav allowed her arm to curve around his waist as she pulled herself close to him. He towered over her, but she fit herself to his side with little problem.

“Mother, do you honestly think I’d leave Heim? Or you?” She spoke softly, trying to keep all emotion out of her voice. She wanted to bawl at the mere thought. Scream in anger that Shikon could think her capable. Laugh at the absurdity of it all. All of these feelings were raging through her, mixing, jumbling. Yet she remained quiet after she initially spoke. Neutral. Her face still, dark eyes watching the woman in front of them.

[Shikon]

“What else am I to think? You ask permission to enter! Years Heim and I try to beat some manners into you, never you ask permission. Never! Now suddenly, you all ‘please’ and ‘may I’.” Shikon stalks around the room gesturing in irritation. “Not only you ask.. You say ‘it is important!’ For me not to be difficult.”

Shikon stops and looks at Mav. “I am not difficult!” she says emphatically while waving her hand in negativity. “You,” she points at Mav, “You are difficult.” She returns to stalking around the room.

“You say ‘this is hard enough’. What so hard? You attack your brother, you laugh. You attack me.. you laugh. You go to war, you laugh. What could be so hard for you?” She nods her head, “Hard for you to tell Heim you leave him, that is what so hard. So you tell me instead. Get me to do your dirty work.”

Shikon’s stalking slowly turned to the less frenetic pacing. “All this drama for what? You love someone?” With that question, all the fear of Mav leaving, finally left her. Her relief was obvious.

She stopped pacing. She stood across from evilive. Her tone no longer angry, rather it was sympathetic. “You know she kill her first husband. She carried his head for months. She drove Smilner to drugs. He not been right since. Louvain..” she tutted sadly, “That poor boy. What she do to him!”

Shikon shook her head sadly “She will be death of you! She is the eater of male souls! I fear for you. She will eat you up.. spit you out broken.” She said to evilive, before looking at Mav “You know this Heimdag’s brother! And what of Emerald? You do this your sister?” She didn’t really expect an answer.

She knew it was not open to discussion, she could by the looks on their faces, their course was set and they would not be dissuaded. She moved to evilive and kissed him briefly on his jaw. “You beat her. This will keep her straight.”

Shikon then moved to Mav, and uncharacteristically hugged her. “You do right by him.”

[evilive]

There it was Shikon again... evilive could hardly follow her - and her rant - around the room. He could understand how she felt, yet it was all just a confussion. Still, Shikon was walking around the room, speaking fast and saying a lot of things to Mav...
evilive couldn't help but smiling when she heard what Shikon told him. Right after she finished, he opened his mouth, ready to answer... but there she went back to Mav, asking about Emerald... and then back at him! Shikon kissed his jaw and gave her own version of a blessing... then went to Mav and hugged her.
Realizing he could never know when Shikon was finally done, he waited right after she finished speaking to Mav:

"Shikon?" - He cleared his throat - "I still would love to say something..."

He waited for them to break their hug, wondering where was Victor with those damned refreshments

[MavericksChild]

Mav tensed as Shikon hugged her. She waited for a knife to stab her between the shoulder blades. Anything. Something violent must be about to happen, because the only other time Shikon had -ever- hugged her, was when she was heart broken over the severing. Her parents were not ones to show physical love, let alone emotional love openly. No, it wouldn’t be a knife. It would be her nail file. Mav hated that horrid nail file.

"Shikon?" - He cleared his throat - "I still would love to say something..."

Mav pulled away first and immediately went for her knife. She wasn’t chancing it. Shikon was acting like she was on drugs. Off centered, showing emotion. It was erratic behavior and more than a bit disconcerting.

“You’re so dramatic! I never killed Amadis. And Legion hurt me worse than I did him.” Mav spoke with a slight bite to her words. Her fingers flexed around the knife hilt. She was still tensed and very read to embed her weapon right between Shikon’s eyes. She glanced quickly at evil, wondering what else he had to say to Shikon. But she couldn’t keep her attention focused on him. Shikon could strike at any second.

[Shikon]

Shikon waved her hand dismissively at Mav. Perhaps she had been slightly dramatic, although she would never admit this openly, but she thought her beast was leaving. The event had actually sapped her energy. She was tired, weary, and yet so relieved.

She crossed away from Mav and evilive, and seated herself in the one of the wingback chairs. “I am sorry, my mind wandered.. you were saying you had more to add?” What he wanted to say, she wasn’t sure. Although the thoughts of a bride price did cross her mind.

If there were to be negotiations of a bride price, she would have to defer to Heim. Her powers of negotiations were slim to none. Yes it would be best to leave the men to work that out for themselves.

[evilive]

evilive observed Mav grabbing her knife, maybe waiting for her mother to attack... but Shikon evidently wasn't thinking of that - at least at that moment - and he couldn't help finding it a amusing... The way these two connected was a bit weird for him, but he was sure he would learn to understand.
As Shikon sat down and addressed him, he spoke
"First of all I would like to make clear that I had already severed Em when Mav and I met... Being Em Heim's daughter, I thought you would already know about that, but of course I could try bringing some light into that isue, in other ocassion. Now, as for Mav's former partners..."
He walked towards Mav while speaking, wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her hand with his. His fingers trailed along hers, hoping she would finally relax and release the knife
"...it's their loss, not hers. I don't think it's Mav's fault if they did not have what it takes. I, for one, am sure I do. She can be a bit of a challenge, I know..." he kissed Mav's cheek after saying that "but I do love challenges, and I do love her. And that's all that matters, you don't need to worry about me" He chuckled at Shikon and nodded, making clear that he had said his piece. Now he just hoped that Mav would finally loose her grip on the knife

[Shikon]

Shikon nodded at evilive’s words “I have no doubt you can handle her.. just remember a good beating can work wonders. She can be loud, obstinate and stubborn.” She spoke as though Mav wasn’t even in the room.

“and messy! The rotten bloated corpses we have had to take care of, is without number. She never cleans after herself. You beat that out of her. She is not easily broken.”

Shikon brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, “So many faults she have. But she is loyal, determined and fiercely defends those close to her. This will be good for her. A strong but loving hand. Heimdag will be pleased. Do you wish me to tell him of this? Or do you wish to speak of it to him, when you discuss the bride price?”

[evilive]

evilive laughed at Shikon's comments about Mav. Once she finished, he slowly released Mav's waist and walked towards a chair, sitting on it
"I hear you say a good beating can work wonders yet she is still unbreakable?"
He placed his elbows on the table, holding his face with his hands, looking at Shikon
"Maybe you don't hit hard enough?"
He chuckled after saying so and looked at Mav, who was standing near his chair. He winked an eye to her and then looked back at Shikon "About Heim? I would like to speak with him, but it seems he's really hard to catch... so I will leave that to you, but... bride price? What are you talking about? I'm not going to buy Mav!" *laughing* "You know I'm old school and all that but... still, we're in the 21st century, my dear Shikon!"

[Shikon]

“Maybe I do not hit her hard enough… after all I am quite dainty.. I do not have the bulky muscles like her.” She nodded. “You could be right.. You be sure to beat her hard then.” She glanced finally at Mav to see if she was seething yet, and then smiled ever so sweetly at her.

Shikon glanced back to evilive as he mentioned Heim, “Yes he has dealings that keep him tied up from time to time. I am hopeful that he will return soon. I know he will be pleased by this news, and at the same time, have some advice for you as well.”

She saw the wink evilive gave Mav, and was about to mention something else when evilive brought up the bride price. Shikon heard him, and paused just slightly before replying, “The Bride price is mens talk. This is to be settled between you and Heim.”

Shikon almost added, that in the past, they have had to pay men to take Mav. But if evilive thinks he must pay, and refuses.. all the better! Just once she would like to have the Beast gone without raiding her bank account to do it. She gave a relaxed smile. “Yes.. I think this will work out nicely.”

[MavericksChild]

Her brows knit slightly as she took note of Shikon ignoring her words. ‘Fine’ Mav thought to herself. No matter. This wasn’t something that was completely out of the normal. When the “adults” were talking, Mav was often shushed like a young childe. Even though, she was very, very far from that in reality. But when compared to the truly old vampire, like Heimdag, Shikon, or even evilive, she was young.


"First of all I would like to make clear that I had already severed Em when Mav and I met... Being Em Heim's daughter, I thought you would already know about that, but of course I could try bringing some light into that issue, in other occasion. Now, as for Mav's former partners..."


She heard him speaking, but Mav hadn’t truly snapped out of her own mind. She was still intent and focused on her mother. Her hand gripped the knife so tightly, that her knuckles were close to white. When his hand touched her waist, then her fingers, Mav leaned back to him a little. Just the feel of his body behind her was a comfort to her. She listened to him quietly. It seemed she’d been uncharacteristically quiet this entire time. Right from the moment she’d hit the buzzer on the gates.

"...it's their loss, not hers. I don't think it's Mav's fault if they did not have what it takes. I, for one, am sure I do. She can be a bit of a challenge, I know..." he kissed Mav's cheek after saying that "but I do love challenges, and I do love her. And that's all that matters, you don't need to worry about me"

Mav tried to stand on her tip toes, hoping that his lips would touch her cheek again. Wishful thinking, to say the least. But he did continue to hold her and so she was content. ~You poor soul. She tries to warn you and you write it off. All the better for me eh?~ The words slid from Mav’s mind to his and she simply smiled. She relaxed even further, although her dark eyes never left Shikon. She didn’t think that evil would allow her to be harmed, not even by her own mother. Her hunting knife was returned to it’s place of rest and her now free hands found his arm around her waist. She caressed his forearm and listened to Shikon respond to him.

Shikon nodded at evilive’s words “I have no doubt you can handle her.. just remember a good beating can work wonders. She can be loud, obstinate and stubborn.” She spoke as though Mav wasn’t even in the room. “and messy! The rotten bloated corpses we have had to take care of, is without number. She never cleans after herself. You beat that out of her. She is not easily broken. So many faults she have. But she is loyal, determined and fiercely defends those close to her. This will be good for her. A strong but loving hand. Heimdag will be pleased. Do you wish me to tell him of this? Or do you wish to speak of it to him, when you discuss the bride price?”

Mav gave a little sputter when her mother mentioned Bride price. She had been slightly dreading that being brought up. It was her parent’s M.O. to try and marry her off quickly. Perhaps before the potential mates could know her well? Quite possibly. But even so, after the last one, Mav didn’t think her mother would be so quick to do a repeat. Sure, evil was nothing like the others she’d been with. But still. Everything else Shi said was moot. Who doesn’t have a few bloated corpses laying around every so often? Surly -everyone-! She felt his grip on her releasing and his body separating from hers. Mav suddenly felt vulnerable again and her eyes returned to her mother.


"I hear you say a good beating can work wonders yet she is still unbreakable? Maybe you don't hit hard enough? About Heim? I would like to speak with him, but it seems he's really hard to catch... so I will leave that to you, but... bride price? What are you talking about? I'm not going to buy Mav!" *laughing* "You know I'm old school and all that but... still, we're in the 21st century, my dear Shikon!"

There was no movement on her part to indicate an attack. So Mav bite her bottom lip and moved a bit closer to evil. She smiled softly as she listened to him poke fun. Then again, he’d threatened physical violence on her already. Terrible, bloody violence.

It was then that Mav realized that she had been holding her breath. Deep down, she had been waiting for him to be outraged at the thought of marriage. She could hear him in her mind, telling Shikon that he’d NEVER consider. Yet, he didn’t. He laughed and took her pushing like a champ.



“Maybe I do not hit her hard enough… after all I am quite dainty.. I do not have the bulky muscles like her.” She nodded. “You could be right.. You be sure to beat her hard then.” She glanced finally at Mav to see if she was seething yet, and then smiled ever so sweetly at her.

“Yes he has dealings that keep him tied up from time to time. I am hopeful that he will return soon. I know he will be pleased by this news, and at the same time, have some advice for you as well.”

She saw the wink evilive gave Mav, and was about to mention something else when evilive brought up the bride price. Shikon heard him, and paused just slightly before replying, “The Bride price is men’s talk. This is to be settled between you and Heim. Yes.. I think this will work out nicely.”

She felt her mothers digs. They were not the deepest, nor bloodiest. But Mav could appreciate them. Her mother was trying to set things back in order after her misunderstanding. And so Mav chose not to take the bait. Let her squirm a little. Let her wonder. “ Woman, You are assuming that this man -wants- to marry me. There will be no talk of bride price. The old man can’t even be bothered to come home anyways to speak of such things.” A smile spread on her lips. A vindictive little smile. “I think I need to rest. You’ve wore me out with your shenanigans.”

Mav turned her attention to evil and smiled a little more pleasantly. “ I’m going to go lay down. Care to accompany me? Or would you like to stay with the Hag?” Her voice was soft, neutral.

[evilive]

evilive listened to Shikon - it was obvious that she was throwing jabs at her daughter, and so far he would not even think of doind anything about that - and nodded
"But of course I would enjoy some advice from the good old Heim... Please contact me once he's back"
He also observed Mav's movements and words towards Shikon, then himself. She had obviously been not through a good moment at first; he was glad that he had came, seeing how things had evolved. The he asked her
"You mean... your mother?" he chuckled, amused "I'm sure she will understand if I go with you, my dear"
That said, he stood up and, grabbing Mav's hand in his, inclined her head to Shikon, then looked back at Mav's glorious eyes "Show me the way, please"

[MavericksChild]

Her smile didn’t waiver in the least. He was very willing to go with her and she was willing to take him. “ Let me just get you a drink first. Since Victor has failed us.. Yet again. Bloodwine?” Mav moved away towards the door, flashing Shikon a brilliant smile on her way. She didn’t wait for his consent on the drink. Really, she needed a moment to get some air as well. Just a moment to regroup and take in the events of the past hour or so.

Her sandaled feet carried her quietly out of the sitting room doors and down the hall. Her eyes watched the oncoming floor as she walked. Concentrated on things said, as well as the pattern of tile. She was so engrossed, she almost didn’t feel him. But his presence was something unmistakable. His scent filled the hall in front of her, and she felt him. His power radiated off of him, much like a red, hot heater in a cold room.

Her eyes shot up and she saw the large man walking towards her. His sharp blue eyes glanced at her for a moment, but he didn’t speak. Mav didn’t speak either. This in it’s self was odd, for normally, she would have clung to him the moment of his arrival. He seemed too intent. Maybe it was that he realized he’d been gone from Shikon too long? Or maybe he felt evilive in the house. He had long since brushed past her and entered the sitting room. She heard murmurs and turned back around. Curiosity was going to be murdering this cat. She had to hear.


“ So…” evil gave a little cough. “Guess you have already heard that Mav and I, well...bah, man, I love her, ok? Hope that's ok for you?”

Mav stopped just outside of the door. She moved close to it, fingers lightly touching the frame as she absorbed the words.

“ No dowry claim?” Heim asked.

“ Huh? What's that?” She could hear the confusion in his voice.

“ Like you want me to give you money for taking Mav of my hands?” Heim answered. “ So now dowry. You want it or not?”

Mav knew what Heim was hinting at. She knew what was on his mind. It’s always what was on his mind when it came to Mav. Marriage. She was dreading it, just like she had been with Shi.

“ It will be... well... a tough task, you know…” evilive began.

“ So are you here to get money or Mav?”


“ Mav, with the money. Otherwise, it'd be bad business.”

“ You could probably buy a dog house together and move in.” Heim spoke again.

“ And, I'm not here to take Mav! I just wanted to know if you were ok with it... Thought I would need…” evil coughed again. “ Permission to love her?”

“ Nah... many can do that, but it would be a courtesy to ask the "father" of his daughters hand in marriage.”

Mav’s mouth dropped open, out in the hallway. Damn that man and his mouth! She imagined driving her fist right into his nose.

“ Wait.…” Mav heard a gasp. “ Who talked about marriage?” She could hear the panic in evil’s voice. She cackled softly. Such a big strong man.. Gasping over marriage!?

“ So you are going to use her? and then throw her away? ..Play with her feelings?” Mav couldn’t tell if she could hear concern in Heim’s voice, or amusement.


“ Heim, I'm sorry but I can't let you speak like that...I would NEVER hurt her. Seems you forgot how I am.”

“ So then I take it you are here to ask for her hand ?” Her father was a stubborn one, that was for sure!

“ Again, No! Damn... You tough old log…” evil seemed a little frustrated. Or maybe baffled. Mav wasn’t sure. Seeing his face would have helped her determine better. Still, she bit her lower lip, trying not to howl laughing at what was unfolding before her ears.


“ So you are not going to do the honorable thing?” Heim persisted.

“ I love her! is anything more honorable than that??”

“ Hmm. Well.. She is kind of tender and fragile and bites her lips quite often.”

“ I can't say I would never marry her... but I can't say I will, either.”

“ You playboy, you…” Heim said.

“ All I can tell you is that I love her with all my undead heart and I will always respect and protect her. I have never been a playboy…” evil lowers his voice just a bit. “ Well maybe first times in old Cap clan, but that's old.”

“ She is very "dear" to me and I would not like to have her hurt... cause she would talk a hole thru my head.”

“ I would never hurt her, Heim, not that I cared for your head... But I do love her, really, deeply.”

“ So how much will I get then?” Heim asked politely.

“ You get? I thought you were going to pay me!”

“ If you married her yes, but obviously is that out of the window.”

Mav shook her head. Heim was gonna rent her again? And as she pondered this, she suddenly wondered how it was that she hadn’t heard Shikon pipe in by now. Odd that.

“ By now it is. So if I don’t marry her, you have to get something for it?”

“ Of course.”

“ Ok then…” evil sounded a little apprehensive to Mav.

“ I like to have your dagger.”

“ You will get the best son-in-law that you could have ever asked for. Dagger don’t go!”

“ What? Dang it.”

“ Well the dagger goes with the son-in-law. But only I yield it."

“ Hmm. So... if you marry Mav…you will get a dowry and I will get your dagger?”

“ If I married her I don’t want a single coin. As if I don’t, I wont give you a grain of salt. No way my dagger leaves me! Man! I don’t want dowry nor anything else than HER! And you wont get anything else than a happy daughter.”

“Ok... so if you would marry Mav, what will your morning gift be?”

“ Morning gift? what would that be? for her, or for you?”

“ I must make sure that she would be taken care of IF something would happen to you?”

“ Nothing will happen to me. There's no way I could walk into the sun or go dead and buried if she loves me.”

There was a small silence. And then finally Heim spoke. “ Very well then. You can date her for now.”

“ For now! What does that mean?”

“ Yes, for now, it means you can date her until you do the right and honorable thing to marry her.”

evil laughed for a moment. " ‘Do the honorable thing’ sounds like... Forced.”

“ Well, I do not claim to be there when you do it - cause marriage is a private matter.”

“ Marriage is social... love is a private matter.” evil commented.

“ I do not see a difference between marriage and love.”

“ Well I do.…”

“ If you love, you marry.” Heim argued.

“ You want two examples?” evil offered.

“ By all means.”

“ I loved your missing Daughter, Em, for a long, long time before we got married. And we remained married even after a long, long time she had just... disappeared from my life. So you have two good examples there.”

“ True.“ Heim paused again. “ Umm... you didn’t kill Em and forgot to tell about it?”

evil laughed again, it was a genuine laugh. “ I swear I didn't…”

“ Ok.” Heim said simply. And there is where Mav took off running down the hall. She heard movement and she couldn’t tell if they were coming for the door or not. The last thing she wanted, was to be caught eavesdropping on them! For shame! She scrambled around the kitchen as soon as she reached it, looking for glasses and wine. Preferably chilled wine.

“ Victor! Why can’t you do as you’re told!” She yelled down the halls. The large stainless steel door of the fridge swung open by her efforts and she scanned for bottles. “Bingo!” Mav snatched a dark bottle up by it’s neck, took the wine glasses by the stems and kicked the fridge door shut again. She really didn’t want to face the old man yet regarding this. Better another time when he hadn’t just been denied a prized dagger.

~I’ll be upstairs. Just walk out of the doors. Down the hall to the right and up. You’ll see a huge staircase. Third door on the right. I’ll be waiting.~ She sent the thought to him and smiled as she ran up the stairs.